Chico, Paradise high football teams ready for offensive fireworks

If the Paradise High football team thought Enterprise was explosive offensively after giving up 41 points last week, then the Bobcats could be headed for a shock Friday against Chico.

"We've got to get better. Chico is an explosive offense," said Tom Hays, Paradise's starting quarterback and who also plays defensive back.

The Bobcats are the lone unbeaten in the Eastern Athletic League at 3-0, but a visit to Pleasant Valley's Asgard Yard to take on Chico won't be easy. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. today after 4 p.m. freshman and 6 p.m. junior varsity contests.

Last season, Paradise got all it could handle against the Panthers in the regular season before the two-time section champs pulled out a 47-42 victory. In the Northern Section Division I semifinals, the Bobcats had an easier time at home against Chico, winning 42-14.

But a Panthers victory today could leave as many as four teams with one league loss. A Bobcats win would leave them needing to beat Shasta at home and Red Bluff on the road to secure the outright league crown. Paradise (5-1) concludes the regular season at home against Las Plumas for its open EAL date.

The Panthers (4-2, 1-1 EAL) are led by quarterback Daniel Robbins, who set a school record and tied the section mark with seven passing touchdowns in a 48-25 victory against Red Bluff last week.

Robbins is the triggerman in Chico's hurry-up, spread offense and his job is to get the ball to the Panthers' plethora of playmakers.

Robbins entered the season as Chico's backup quarterback to starter Trevon Reid, a fellow senior who set the section record in total offense for a single season in 2011. But Reid was injured in the season opener against Center and after numerous injuries has returned to play a multitude of roles for the Panthers — wide receiver, H-back, wildcat quarterback.

Robbins, while not a threat to run like Reid was last season, has continued the passing proficiency. Robbins leads the section in both passing yards at 1,592 and passing TDs with 18.

Against Red Bluff, Jesse Holmes had six catches for 59 yards and two scores, Eli Penick had six catches for 86 yards and three TDs and Burak Karatekeli had 116 receiving yards.

The Bobcats haven't been as stout defensively as in years past, giving up an average of 23.33 points per game at this point in the season — a shade under six points higher than what Paradise finished with in 2011.

While Paradise coach Rick Prinz said the defensive numbers at this stage in the season are a concern, he said the major issue is not getting complacent.

"The concern is we play 48 minutes," he said Tuesday.

Playing 48 minutes gives Paradise's offense more time to make up for its defensive miscues. Last week, Hays hooked up with senior wide receiver Johnny Porter for two scores in the second half — the second of which came via a 65-yard bomb that Porter hauled in behind him with one hand after the ball was deflected — turning a 14-10 battle at halftime into a 42-41 whoever-has-the-ball-last type of game.

Porter also ran for a score when he took a pitch from Hays and sprinted 59 yards seemingly untouched down the left sideline.

Chico coach Jason Alvistur said his defense, which he said has improved every game, will need to be extra physical in order to slow down Paradise's backfield.

That's exactly the mindset Prinz has when seeking a way to slow down in Chico's pass attack.

It's likely what will determine the outcome of this game.

"I think they have a very tough offense to contain. They've proven it. They've put up a lot of points playing tough opponents throughout the year," Prinz said. "We have to make some adjustments, make some improvements and come out and play better."

Prinz said Tuesday that senior running back Ryan Poliquin, who remains the team's fourth-leading rusher despite not playing for three weeks with a shoulder injury, will remain sidelined this week as well.

Poliquin was also the Bobcats' starting kicker entering the season, so that puts extra pressure on sophomore Andrew Machado and junior Sutter Wyatt — both of whom split duties last week against Enterprise — to develop their skills kicking the ball.

Connect with Paradise Post Sports Editor Jeff Larson on Twitter @jtlarson and Post Managing Editor Rick Silva @Post_RickSilva for updates of today's Paradise-Chico game. For video highlights and interviews of Friday's game against Enterprise, as well as a video preview of today's game with Chico, go to www.paradisepost.com.